So instead of printing out her class schedule, heading to the Delta College Bookstore and buying her textbooks, she surfs the Internet. Delta College is near Bay City.

Last semester, the 20-year-old Delta student bought a new textbook for Math 119 on Allibris.com. She spent $40; a used copy of the same textbook cost $80 at the bookstore, she said.

Langlois recently searched the Internet for this semester's textbooks, but because prices were similar to those at the bookstore, the Bay City resident dropped $200 at Delta on two textbooks and a worksheet packet.

Many college students are choosing to buy their textbooks online, using one of several hundred book-buying Web sites.

Web sites like eCampus.com and BigWords.com claim to sell textbooks at a cheaper price than do on-campus bookstores.

"I've seen books discounted by up to 70 percent off the retail price, but as low as 20 percent," said Rafael Wolf, founder of PimpMyBook.com. "Either way, they're discounted."

Unlike most online stores, PimpMyBook.com does not sell its own books -- it merely serves as a meeting place for buyers and sellers.

Sellers can post their new or used books on the Web site, and buyers can choose whether to purchase them.

"People don't post books online and expect to get full price," Wolf said. "They know people are looking for bargains, so most books are priced to sell. It's reminiscent of a garage sale."

Because PimpMyBook.com does not implement customer fees or feature any advertisements on its Web site, its creators do not make a profit and it's free to use.

Marcus Mitchell said he still would rather buy his books at an on-campus bookstore -- even though prices may be cheaper on some Web sites.

"I don't like buying stuff online," said the 18-year-old Delta student. "I don't like waiting. You can get it right now (at the bookstore)."

Students using the Internet to shop for textbooks usually have to pay using a credit card. However, many on-campus bookstores, including Delta College's, allow students to use their federal student loan money to pay for textbooks, said Barbara Webb, director of business services, which oversees the bookstore.

Frank Scheufelt spent $455 on textbooks at the bookstore, but because he received the federal Pell grant, his books were covered.

Scheufelt said the Pell grant allotted him $500 for textbooks, which he didn't expect to exceed, seeing that he only spent $200 on his books last semester.

"It's just more convenient this way," said the 36-year-old Delta student.

Convenience also means that if a professor decides to make a last-minute change to their course materials, the bookstore will exchange them, whereas a Web site sometimes wouldn't, Webb said.